The Way Things Stood (1)

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 25th April 2008

Characters: Rahona, Fog, Lihona, Keirlee, Linli
Description: Keirlee visits the Sungazer and ends up on a picnic with Fog.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 13 of Turn 4

"I have plans," Rahona announced as soon as she reached Keirlee, before the other woman had a chance to get clear of the wingspan of the brown dragon who had delivered her to the small hold on the banks of the Nettleweed River. "We're going on a picnic."

"Eh? A picnic, but I've only just arrived, don't I even get a chance to put away my things?" she laughed as she hiked her carrisac further onto her shoulder. "What's the rush - and just _what_ are you up to?"

"Nothing. Just thought you might like to come for a picnic with the girls and I. Lihona has a 'best friend' - Linli. Inseparable. Anyway, a picnic for them and us and Linli's father said he would come along."

"Oh, er, okay." Keirlee gave a brief flick of her head, trying to figure out if there was anything she should be suspicious of, it still didn't make sense that Rahona should rush her off for a picnic the instant she arrived. "I can't even put my things away, you're in such a rush? So
-" she looked around the clearing, "where are the girls?"

"They went on ahead, with Fog, Linli's father. Look, if you really want to put your things away you can, but R'harne will do it otherwise." She waved up at her brother, still mounted on his brown dragon. "You're going to say hello to Lineal and Nalin, aren't you? You'll take Keirlee's things onboard?"

With a shrug, Keirlee dropped her carrisac to the ground. "Okay, then I guess I'm ready. I hope you have a flask of something to drink when we get to the picnic location. Preferably something warm." She thanked R'harne and his dragon for the ride and promised to be ready for them in a sevenday when they would collect her again, then turned back to Rahona. "Okay, lead the way."

"Have you met Linli?" Rahona asked, guiding her friend along the path beside the river, after which they would head through the scattered buildings of the hold and out onto the flood plains.

"Um... I'm not sure. Is that Ta - Tara's little sister?"

"Tahna. Have you met her? Yes, Linli's her little sister. Just about Lihona's age."

"Yes I met both of them very briefly while I was here last time. Ta -
hna is very mature for her age - but doesn't seem to have much of a childhood here. But yes I remember both girls - vaguely. Why?"

"Well, because it's Linli who we're meeting for the picnic. With Lihona. And Linli's father. Did you ... Did you ever meet him? Fog?"

"Um," she stopped and thought for a moment, "the name's familiar, but I don't remember actually talking to him, I have a vague memory of a tall, retiring man. Is that him?" she asked, still unsure of where all of this was heading.

"Yes. See! You'll know everybody at the picnic," Rahona said. "And look -" She pointed out into the field where a stand of ancient trees stood. "There they are."

Keirlee looked ahead, and saw the man she vaguely remembered, sitting with the two little girls. "That's him." she smiled, "though he's smiling now and I don't remember him looking quite so clean and -
attentive the last time I saw him." The walked across towards the threesome who were sitting on a quilt with two baskets.

Fog's eye twitched nervously as he waited with Linli and Lihona. He was grateful the girls were full of chatter and hadn't noticed just how nervous he was becoming. Keirlee was the first woman he had taken an active interest in, since the accident and Marilea leaving him. He glanced up and saw them enter the clearing, Rahona and her best friend from the Weyr. Keirlee's reddish hair was burnished by the late winter sunlight, making it appear her head was alight with flame.

"Keirlee, this is Fog, Lineal's cousin, and one of the engineers about the Sungazer," Rahona said in introduction over the top of Lihona's bouncing enthusiasm for their guest.

"Hello Fog." her eyes met and held his, she noticed a slight tick in his eye, but overall he was quite a handsome man. A small scar could be seen above his eye, but it only added to his rugged looks. "I'm pleased to finally be introduced, we have met before, but with no formal introduction." she extended her hand in greeting and smiled warmly up at him.

"The pleasure is all mine." Fog replied, his voice catching slightly in his throat with nerves. "I remember, you were in the galley one evening helping Rahona, but I think I was a little more messy that evening and didn't stay for long." Her green eyes held his in mesmerised fascination, she was as pretty as he remembered and her smile was warmly received. "Please, sit down." he said, indicating the edge of the quilt opposite, "There's plenty of food, we're so glad you could join us."

"Aunty Denna's packed enough food for _three_ picnics," Lihona informed Keirlee. "Sit by me and Linli," she insisted, taking the woman's hand.

"I've missed you little one." Keirlee said, taking a seat between the two girls. She didn't miss the looks she was receiving from both Rahona and Fog and felt a little uneasy - as though she was being set up for something, but the children made her feel more at ease, once she sat down and started chatting with them. She slipped an easy arm across Lihona's shoulder, "You're really enjoying life on the riverboat and making new friends?"

"Linli is my new friend," Lihona said with a smile. "And I _love_ the Sungazer. We visit lots of different places."

Rahona made a mental note to mention that comment to Lineal since he had left the Sungazer searching for a lifestyle that would take him to more places than just the same old river route. Lihona, having been raised at River Bluff Weyr, and having never really left it until she joined the Sungazer, found the riverboat life far more exciting and varied than she was used to.

Last updated on the May 1st 2008

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The Way Things Stood (1)